Display sign



July 4, 1939.

Filed Dec. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I 5 l. lln 0 I I L fi V////// 55 5| as 47 37 E 39 so i 4 62 2 INVENTOR I JOHN HAYS HAMMOND JR. 8| 8283 BY I36 9 10/ TORNEY y 1939- J. H. HAMMOQND, JR 2,154,917

- DISPLAY'SIGN Filed Dec. 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PI A-L,

INVENTOR JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

RNEY

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs and more particularly to a sign composed of a plurality of rapidly moving lights.

The invention further relates to a display system in which the lights move so rapidly that they complete a full cycle in less than one sixteenth of a second so that the paths traversed by the lights appear as continuous luminous lines.

The invention also relates to automatic means for changing the characters of the sign so that various words or symbols may appear successively on the sign.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and ad" vantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a display system constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, together with the control appa ratus 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims a parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, a display sign It] is shown as provided with a plurality of pantographs II which are pivoted at I2 to across bar I3. At the top of each pantograph may be mounted one or more lamps I5. The lower ends of each pantograph II extend into a casing I6 and are provided with a pin H which engages two slots I8 and I9 provided in two T-shaped members 26 and 2| respectively. Each pantograph is provided with a separate control apparatus, one only of which is described below and shown in detail Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of the path followed by one of the lights in forming a character. I

in the drawings. It is to be understood that this control apparatus is duplicated for each of the pantographs employed.

The members 2!) and 2| are slidably mounted for vertical and horizontal motion respectively in a frame 22, which is secured to the top of the casing I6, and are provided at their ends with pins 25 and 26. These pins engage slots provided in the ends of twoarms 21 and 28 which are pivoted on a bar 26 secured to the casing I6- Two compression springs 36 and 3! are mounted between the arms 21 and 28 and the frame 22.

Pivoted to the arms 21 and 28 are two rollers 32 .and 33 which engage two cams 35 and 36. These cams are secured to two sleeves 3'! and 38 which slide on two shafts 39 and 46 respectively but are mounted to rotate therewith. The shafts 39 and 46 are secured to the casing I6, in any convenient manner.

Rigidly secured to the sleeves 31 and 38 are a plurality of other cams 4|, 42, etc. and 45, 46, etc. respectively. The sleeves 3'! and 38 are provided with grooves which are adapted to receive two yokes 4'! and 48 formed on the ends of an L-shaped member 49 which is journalled to slide axially with a shaft 50. The shaft 50 is mounted for sliding and rotational movement in the frame I6. Secured to the shaft 56 is a commutator 5| made of insulating material and provided with a plurality of conducting segments 52 (Fig. 3) which correspond in position to the cams 36, 45, 46, etc. Surrounding the shaft 5!! and tending to move the commutator 5| and member 49 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, is a compression spring 53.

Secured to the end of the shaft 50 is a piston 54 which is adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder 55 mounted on the casing I6. The cylinder 55 is provided with a vent 56. Slidably but not rotatably mounted on the shaft 56 is a gear 51 which meshes with two other gears 56 which are secured to the shafts 39 and 46 respectively; Meshing with the gear 51 is a pinion 59 which is secured to the shaft of a motor 6! This motor is driven from any suitable source of power such as an A. C. supply 6|.

Secured to the casing I6 is a cylinder 62 (Fig. 2) in which reciprocates a piston 63 which is attached to a piston rod 65. Surrounding this rod and tending to hold the piston 63 at the lower 50 end of the cylinder 62 is a compression spring 61. The cylinder 62 is provided with a vent 68 at its upper end.

Mounted on a bracket 69 which is secured to the casing I6 is a second cylinder I0 which is similar in construction to cylinder 62 and which is provided with a piston rod 1 I. Secured to the rod H is an arm 12 of insulating material to which is attached a segment 13 of conducting material. The lamp I5, which is mounted at the top of one of the pantographs II, is connected to a source of power 15 thru two sets of contacts 1G11 and 18-19. The contacts 16 and 11 are normally engaged by the conducting segment 13 and the contacts 18 and 19 engage the commutator 5I.

Slidably mounted in the casing I6 and in a bracket 89 are a plurality of rectangular shaped bars 8|, 82 and 83 (Figs. 2 to 4) which are provided with a plurality of notches 85 of varying widths. Located above the bars 8I83 and pivotally mounted on a rod 86 are a plurality of bars 81 to 93. Between these bars are spacers 95. The L shaped member 49 is provided with a lug 96 which engages any of the bars 81 to 93 when they are in an operative position as shown in Fig. 2.

Located beneath the bars 8193 is a cylinder 91 (Figs. 2 and 3) in which reciprocates a piston 98 to which is attached a T shaped piston rod 99 for engaging the bars B193. Surrounding the piston rod 99 and tending to hold the piston 98 I93, I94 and I95 (Figs. 3 and 4) in each of which reciprocates a piston I96. Connected to the pistons I96 are three piston rods I91 the other ends of which are attached to the bars BI, 82 and 83. Surrounding the piston rods I91 are three compression springs I98 which tend to move the bars 8|, 82 and 83 downward as viewed in Fig. 4. The three cylinders I93, I94 and I95 are provided with vents I99.

For controlling the operation of the display device a control mechanism is provided which comprises a perforated roll III of paper or other suitable material which is drawn over a. tracker bar II 2 at a uniform or variable rate of speed by any well known form of mechanism for such purpose (not shown). The tracker bar H2 is provided with a plurality of groups II5 to I2I of three holes each and with three individual holes, I22, I23 and I24. These holes are connected by tubes I25 to a pneumatic relay mechanism I26. This mechanism is provided with outlet tubes which are arranged in a plurality of groups I28 to I34 of three tubes each and three individual tubes I35, I36 and I31. The relay mechanism is so constructed that when a perforation in the roll III passes in front of a hole in the tracker bar II2 air under pressure will be caused to enter the corresponding outlet tube.

The three outlet tubes of each group I28 to I34 are connected to the three cylinders I93, I94 and I95 of each of the mechanisms controlling the various pantographs II. The tube I35 is connected to the cylinder 55 and by a branch tube I49 to all the other corresponding cylinders 55 of the control apparatus for the other pantographs. The tube I38 is connected to the cylinder 62 and by a branch tube I42 to the cylinder 19. The tube I36 is also connected by a branch tube I43 to all the other corresponding cylinders 62 and 19. The tube I31 is connected to the cylinder 91 and by a branch tube I44 to all the other corresponding cylinders 91.

The roll III is provided with three individual perforations I45, I46 and I41 and a plurality of groups I48 to I54 of perforations which vary in number and position. The groups, however, corresponding to the groups of holes H5 to I2I in the tracker bar II2.

In the operation of the display device the roll II I is moved over the tracker bar I I2, preferably at a uniform rate, by any suitable mechanism provided for the purpose. The perforation. I48 will first uncover the hole I23 causing air under pressure to be supplied, by the tube I36, to all the cylinders 62 and 19. This will cause the piston rods 65 and H of these cylinders to be moved outwardly and into engagement with the arms 21 and 28 which will be moved upwardly and to the left respectively, thus lifting the rollers 32 and 33 away from their corresponding cams. At the same time the contact segment 13 will be moved to the left, thus breaking the circuit to the lamp I 5, the light from which is thereby extinguished.

The perforations I45 and I 41 next uncover the holes I22 and I24, admitting air under pressure to all the cylinders 55 and 91. When air enters the cylinder 55 the piston will be moved to the extreme right as shown in Fig. 3. This by means of the rod 59 will move the L shaped member 49, together with the commutator 5I and all of the cams, to the extreme right hand position. At the same time the air entering the cylinder 91 causes the rod 99 to be moved upward, thus rotating all of the bars 81 to 93 to a horizontal position.

The groups of perforations I48 to I54 will next uncover the corresponding holes in the tracker bar H2. The group I5I for example consists of only one perforation in the left hand position which will cause air under pressure to be supplied to the cylinder I93. This. moves the bar 8| upward into the position shown in Fig. 4. The group I52, which is shown as consisting of one perforation in the center position, will cause the bar 82 of the corresponding mechanism to be moved upward. The group I53, comprising two perforations in left and center positions, will cause both the bars BI and 82 of the corresponding mechanism to be moved upward. In a similar manner the various groups of perforations will cause various movements of the bars 8I to 83 in the corresponding mechanisms depending on the number and positions of the perforations.

When the bar BI is moved upward, as shown in Fig. 4, it will cause three of the notches 85 in the three bars 8I, 82and 83 to be in line with the bar 81. When only the bar 82 is moved upward it will cause three of the notches 85 in the three bars 8|, 82 and 83 to be in line with the bar 88. In a similar manner by moving any one or combination of the bars 8|, 82 and 83 it is possible to cause the notches 85 to line up under any desired one of the bars 81 to 93.

As the roll III continues to move over the tracker bar II2 the perforation I 41 will cease to uncover the hole I24 which will shut off the supply of air to the tube I31 and will connect it to the exhaust thus allowing all the pistons 98 in the cylinders 91 to move downward under the action of the springs I99. This causes the rod 99 to move out of engagement with the bars 81- 93 leaving them free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the action of gravity.

The bar 81 will drop into the three notches 85 which are in line under this bar as shown in Fig. 4. The other bars 8893 will not drop down, however, as at no other place are three notches 85 in line. In each of the other similar mechanisms associated with the other pantographs one of the bars 8'I93-wi11 drop down depending upon how the bars 8| to 83 have been moved under the action of the groups of perforations I48-|54 as already described.

As the roll III continues to move upward the perforation I45 will cease to uncover the hole I22 thus causing the tube I35 to be connected to the exhaust. This will allow the piston 54, rod 50. and member 49, together with the commutator 5| and all the cams, to move to the left under the action of the spring 53 as viewed in Fig. 3. This motion will continue until the lug 96 engages the bar 87 the right hand end of which has been moved up into the path of the lug 96 as shown in Fig. 2. The commutators and cams of the other mechanisms will be moved in a similar manner until the lugs 95 engage the particular bar 8'I-93 which has been moved into operative positions as already described.

*As the roll III continues to move upward the perforation I45 will cease to uncover the hole I23 thus causing the tube I36 to be connected to the exhaust which will allow'the rods 85 and 'II to be returned to their initial positions thus allowing the arms 21 and 28 to be moved downward and to the right under the actions of the springs 30 and 3| respectively. This allows the rollers 32 and 33 to engage the cams 35 and 36 which have been thus set in position and which are continually rotated at a. relatively high speed by the motor 68 acting thru the gears 59, 5! and 58. The speed is preferably selected within the limits of the persistance' of vision such as above sixteen cycles per second so that the letter appears as a stationary and complete character.

The rollers 32 and 33 of the other mechanisms will also drop upon various cams depending upon the position assumed by the member 49, which, as already described, is determined by which one of the bars 81-93 is in an operative position. Thus for example the rollers 32 and 33 of the mechanism controlled by the group of perforations I52 will engage the cams 4| and 45 respectively.

As the cams 35 and 36 rotate under the rollers 32 and 33, the arms 21 and 28 and therefore the members 25 and 2| will move in a manner determined by the shape of these cams. The motions of the members 28 and 2| will be combined and transmitted by means of the pin II to the pantograph II which will cause the lamp I5 to move in a manner determined by the shape of the earns 35 and 36. In this case the cams are shaped so as to cause the lamp I5. to follow the curved path I51 of Fig. 5.

The commutator 5| is rotated by means of the gear 51 at the same speed as the cams and the segments 52 which are in line with the contacts I8 and I9 are so designed that the lamp I5 will be lit while it is travelling the full line sections of the curved path I51 and will be extinguished while it is travelling the dotted line sections of this path. As the lamp I5 traverses the complete curved path I5I in less than one-sixteenth of a second the visual effect produced by its motion will be the letter A as shown in the full lines of Fig. 5.

The second set of cams 4| and 45 and the second set of segments 52 on the commutator 5| may be so designed that the lamp I5 will be caused to follow a curved path which will produce some other letter, such as the letter B. The third set of cams 42 and 46 and third set of segments 52 will produce a third letter, such as the letter C, and so on. In this way any desired number of letters; "digits and characters of any description may be produced by constructing the proper cams and commutators. The cams and commutators are, of course, selected in accordance with the combination of characters required in, a particular sign.

The characters formed by the lamps I5 shown in Fig. 1 are determined by the number and location of the perforations in the groups I48 to I54. These characters continue to be formed by the lamps I5 as long as no more perforations appear on the roll III. When, however, it is desired to change these characters a new set of perforations are provided in the roll III. The perforations I45, I46 and I41 remain similar to those shown in Fig. 3 and operate the mechanisms in an identical manner tothat already described. The groups of perforations I48 to I54 may be changed as to number and arrangement so as to produce a new set of characters.

In this way it is possible to provide a roll I which will cause any desired number of words tobe produced consecutively by the display device.

While only a single lamp is shown on each pantograph it is to be understood that any desired number of lamps may be used either white or colored so that it would be possible to produce the words in colored lights as well as in white.

Only a limited number of lights, selector rods, cams and commutators have been shown for purposes of illustration but it is understood that any desired number may be provided in order to produce words of any length and type of character.

The device may be adapted to electrical operation by substituting contact means and electrical relays for the pneumatic control apparatus which has been shown merely for purposes of illustration. If a single symbol only is to be shown for a long period of time the pneumatic control means may be omitted and the cams may be set manually as required. In that event the cams may be made replaceable and shifting of the shaft 50 axially could be dispensed with.

Although only a few of the various forms in which this invention may be embodied have been shown herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction but might be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display sign comprising a plurality of light sources, means repeatedly and simultaneously moving each of said light Sources in predetermined paths to trace independently designated characters by each source, and means rendering said light sources luminous over a portion of that path corresponding to said characters.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 in which the light sources are moved at a speed above the persistence of vision so that permanent stationary characters appear to the eye to be formed thereby.

3. A display sign comprising a point light source, means comprising a set of cams for repeatedly moving said light. sources in predetermined paths to trace designated characters, means rendering said light sources luminous over a portion of that path corresponding to said designated characters and means rendering various cams of said set operative in accordance with the selected character.

4. A display sign, comprising a light source, cam operated means adapted to cause said light source to travel in a recurrent predetermined path adapted to form a designated character, additional cam means associated with said first cam means and adapted to cause said light source to form other characters, and means selectively rendering said cam means operative in accordance with the character desired.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 in which the various cam means are mounted on the same shaft and means is provided for shifting said shaft axially for bringing said cam means into operative position.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 in which a commutator is provided having segments corresponding to each of said cam means and adapted to cooperate therewith to render said light source luminous over a predetermined portion of the path of travel thereof selected to form the desired character.

'7. A display sign, comprising a light source, a pantograph controlling the position of said light source, means actuating said pantograph to cause said light source to repeatedly follow a predetermined path, said means comprising linkages operatively connected to said pantograph and rotating cam means engaging said linkages, said cam means comprising a shaft carrying a plurality of different cams, means shifting said shaft axially to bring selected cams into operative position with respect to saidv linkage, a commutator carried by said shaft, said commutator having segments corresponding to each of said cam means and adapted to render said light source luminous over a portion of each path corresponding to the designated character, said commutator I being shiftable with said shaft to bring the difierent segments into operative position.

8. The invention set forth in claim '7 in which a pair of cam means and commutators are provided to control the movement of said pantograph in coordinate directions.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 having a bracket to control the axial position of said shaft, a plurality of stop members to limit the movement of said bracket and remote control means to actuate said stop members.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 7 having a plurality of stop members for limiting the movement of said bracket, and means for actuating said stop members comprising a set of sliding bars having grooves therein adapted to register with the different stop members in accordance with the relative positions of the various bars, remote control means for actuating said bars, releasing said stop members and returning said bracket to a predetermined zero position prior to each setting operation.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 7 having a plurality of stop members for limiting the movement of said bracket, means for actuating said stop members comprising a set of sliding bars having grooves therein adapted to register with the different stop members in accordance with the relative positions of the various bars, remote control means for actuating said bars, releasing said stop members returning said bracket to a predetermined zero position prior to each setting operation, said remote control means comprising a pneumatic selector adapted to cooperate with a perforated control sheet whereby the cam selection is automatically effected by movement of said perforated sheet.

12. The method of producing a display sign which comprises simultaneously moving a plura-lity of light sources in selected recurrent paths and rendering each of said light sources luminous over a portion of the respective path corresponding to a designated character.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 in which the light sources are moved at a speed above the persistence of vision whereby a permanent stationary visual impression of the selected characters is obtained.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. 

